Patientacceptance and satisfaction with telemedicine in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic sparked rapid and widespread implementation of telemedicine, the practice of delivering medical care remotely using two-way, real-time interactive communication. Our goal was to assess patients' acceptance, satisfaction, and desire for future use of telemedicine among women seeking care for pelvic floor disorders (PFDs). Methods: We performed a structured telephone survey of new patients, who underwent video-only visits, and established patients who underwent a realtime video or audio-only telemedicine visit based on their preference when non-urgent, in-person visits were suspended. We designed two surveys (audio-only and real-time video) that included questions on demographics;level of comfort;overall satisfaction with the telemedicine visit;access and comfort with technology;desire to use telemedicine in the future;and perceived utility (Table 1). Student's t-tests and chi-squared tests were used to compare characteristics and survey responses between all three groups (Established audio-only, Established real-time video, and New real-time video participants) as well as Established audio-only vs real-time video participants. Results: Results: Between April and June 2020, we conducted telemedicine visits with 233 patients, 132 (65%) of whom agreed to participate in our survey (63 (47.7%) audio-only, 69 (52.3%) video, including 35 Established, and 34 New patients). Mean age of participants was 62.6 ± 15.2 years. The majority identified as white (77.3%), married (65.9%), college educated or higher (62.1%), were insured by Medicare (56.8%), and resided a mean distance of 47 miles from in-person office locations. The most common chief complaints were POP and UI (48.8%). Overall, most participants (96.4%) described being 'very' or 'somewhat satisfied' with telemedicine in addressing their needs and 'very' or 'somewhat comfortable' sharing personal information with providers in a telemedicine visit (94.7%). Additionally, Established patient participants in both audio-only and video groups reported feeling 'equal' or 'much more comfortable' (83%) and 'connected' (77.6%) to their provider during the telemedicine visit compared to in-person office visits. Though real-time video was associated with greater perceived quality of care (Table 1), both groups expressed a desire to use telemedicine in the future (88.6%). Conclusions: Conclusion: Women presenting with PFDs were satisfied with both real-time video and audio-only telemedicine visits. Both groups expressed interest in continuing to use telemedicine in the future. Telemedicine is a wellaccepted option for providing care with the potential to reduce geographical barriers for women with PFDs and limited access to subspecialty care.